NEW YORK-- It's been 75 years since "Gone with the Wind" was published, but Margaret Mitchell's tale of Miss Scarlet and Rhett Butler lives on as a staple in southern culture.

Donald McCaig has announced a prequel to the novel called "Ruth's Journey," according to the New York Times.

With the blessing of Mitchell estate, McCaig chose to focus on the story of Mammy the house servant. In the original novel, Mammy is nameless, serving to provide ripe wisdom and nurturing care but with no history of how she came to Tara. In the prequel, she's given the name Ruth.

"Ruth's Journey" seeks to shed light on her history.

The novel begins in 1804 and chronicles Ruth's transition from Haiti to Savannah, Georgia.

Mitchell was criticized for her portrayal of black people in 'Gone with the Wind" and McCaig said he hopes to rectify the portrait of Mammy.

In an email to the New York Times, McCaig said there are “three major characters in ‘Gone With the Wind,’ but we only think about two of them.”